Shields Township supervisor aims to start food co-op

Shields Township officials are trying to start a food co-op in the township. Here, fresh produce sits in baskets near the front entrance of the Dill Pickle Food Co-op in 2010. (William DeShazer, Chicago Tribune)

As the supervisor for Shields Township, Cynthia Maloney is well aware that most folks would be shocked to discover that a food desert exists amid the affluence and amenities of the North Shore.

Indeed, while the township includes Lake Forest, Lake Bluff and portions of unincorporated Lake County, Maloney is troubled that one community – North Chicago – still lacks a full-service grocery store for residents seeking fresh fruits and vegetables essential for healthy eating.

"There are some convenience and liquor stores in North Chicago where you can buy milk, canned goods, and other groceries, but nowhere for residents to buy a head of lettuce or a variety of fresh vegetables," Maloney said.

"It occurred to me, rather than waiting for a Jewel or Aldi to come to town, why don't we open a food co-op?" said Maloney, adding that while the township has its share of wealthy neighborhoods, roughly 68 percent of North Chicago residents are considered low-income.

Inspired by the affordable and eclectic food co-ops she frequented during her college days at the University of Missouri in the 1970s, Maloney began her mission to start a food co-op with a quick Google search.

"I immediately found so many cool stories about people who live in towns that didn't have grocery stores and who started food co-ops," said Maloney, who is coordinating the project as a community volunteer, rather than in her official role as township supervisor.

According to Mari Gallagher, a researcher, consultant, and the founding president of the National Center for Public Research, food deserts across the U.S. are not limited to only poor neighborhoods but affect diverse socioeconomic regions.

"There's a stereotype that this is an urban and inner city issue, but there are many different kinds of residential areas that have food imbalances," said Gallagher, the author of "Examining the Impact of Food Deserts on Public Health in Chicago," a study which popularized the term "food desert" across the nation.

"People generally buy their food from the closest store, and in some communities, that might mean shopping at a convenience store, dollar store or gas station mini-mart, if you don't have a car, and the nearest full-service grocery store is a mile away," Gallagher said.

"Co-ops are certainly one way to go, and there are many different kinds that have been around for decades," she added.

Maloney is now recruiting volunteers to help organize the food co-op effort and to find a location in town that is convenient for residents and offers ample space to safely store and sell the offerings, which would likely include an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as healthy meats and other nutritious groceries.

"We are at the preliminary stage, and our first goal is to create an economic model that is viable," said Maloney, who hopes that once the food co-op is up and running, volunteers can perhaps either become paid staff, or receive either discounted or free groceries in exchange for their work.

In addition, Maloney hopes to find volunteers to cultivate an organic garden in town that could provide fresh fruits and vegetables for the food co-op, reflecting the ethos of the popular slow-food movement.

"It's always healthiest to eat local," Maloney said. "Right now, we're looking for volunteers who have some experience working in or running a grocery store, or would like to tend a garden for us.

"It's a big project, but we're hoping to create a local business that will provide residents with healthy groceries, while adding energy and economic development to the community," Maloney said.

For more information on volunteering for the North Chicago Food Co-Op, contact Cynthia Maloney at (847) 234-0802 or cmaloney@shieldstownship.com.